Electrode with redundant impedance reduction

ABSTRACT

An electrode assembly that includes an electrically conductive layer, a first impedance reduction system, and a second impedance reduction system. The electrically conductive layer forms an electrode portion of the electrode assembly and a first surface to be placed adjacent a person&#39;s skin. The first impedance reduction system is configured to dispense a first amount of an electrically conductive gel onto the first surface of the electrically conductive layer in response to a first activation signal. The second impedance reduction system is configured to dispense a second amount of the electrically conductive gel onto the first surface of the electrically conductive layer in response to a second activation signal.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 as a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/690,116 titled “ELECTRODE WITH REDUNDANT IMPEDANCE REDUCTION” filed Apr. 17, 2015, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 as a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/849,751 titled “ELECTRODE WITH REDUNDANT IMPEDANCE REDUCTION” filed Mar. 25, 2013, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 as a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/315,937 titled “ELECTRODE WITH REDUNDANT IMPEDANCE REDUCTION” filed Dec. 9, 2011, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 as a continuation of International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US2011/063931, titled “ELECTRODE WITH REDUNDANT IMPEDANCE REDUCTION” filed Dec. 8, 2011, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/421,283 titled “ELECTRODE WITH REDUNDANT IMPEDANCE REDUCTION” filed Dec. 9, 2010. U.S. application Ser. No. 13/315,937 titled “ELECTRODE WITH REDUNDANT IMPEDANCE REDUCTION” filed Dec. 9, 2011, also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/421,283 titled “ELECTRODE WITH REDUNDANT IMPEDANCE REDUCTION” filed Dec. 9, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to medical electrodes, and more particularly, to a medical electrode with redundant impedance reduction systems that may be used with a wearable medical device, such as a defibrillator.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Cardiac arrest and other cardiac health ailments are a major cause of death worldwide. Various resuscitation efforts aim to maintain the body's circulatory and respiratory systems during cardiac arrest in an attempt to save the life of the victim. The sooner these resuscitation efforts begin, the better the victim's chances of survival. These efforts are expensive and have a limited success rate, and cardiac arrest, among other conditions, continues to claim the lives of victims.

To protect against cardiac arrest and other cardiac health ailments, some at-risk patients may use a wearable defibrillator, such as the LifeVest® wearable cardioverter defibrillator available from Zoll Medical Corporation of Chelmsford, Massachusetts. To remain protected, the patient wears the device nearly continuously while going about their normal daily activities, while awake, and while asleep.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an electrode assembly is provided. The electrode assembly comprises an electrically conductive layer that forms an electrode portion of the electrode assembly, a first impedance reduction system, and a second impedance reduction system. The electrically conductive layer has a first surface to be placed adjacent a person's skin. The first impedance reduction system is configured to dispense a first amount of a first electrically conductive gel onto the first surface of the electrically conductive layer in response to a first activation signal, and the second impedance reduction system is configured to dispense a second amount of a second electrically conductive gel onto the first surface of the electrically conductive layer in response to a second activation signal.

In accordance with one embodiment, the first activation signal and the second activation signal are based upon the same signal. In accordance with another embodiment, the first activation signal is distinct from the second activation signal.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the second impedance reduction system is configured to dispense the second amount of the second electrically conductive gel onto the first surface of the electrically conductive layer in response to the second activation signal and independent of whether the first impedance reduction system dispenses the first amount of the first electrically conductive gel on the first surface of the electrically conductive layer in response to the first activation signal.

In accordance with one embodiment, the first impedance reduction system is similar in construction to the second impedance reduction system.

In accordance with one embodiment, the electrically conductive layer has a plurality of apertures formed there through, the plurality of apertures including a first plurality of apertures and a second plurality of apertures. In accordance with this embodiment, the first impedance reduction system is configured to dispense the first amount of the first electrically conductive gel through the first plurality of apertures and onto the first surface of the electrically conductive layer in response to the first activation signal, and the second impedance reduction system is configured to dispense the second amount of the second electrically conductive gel through the second plurality of apertures and onto the first surface of the electrically conductive layer in response to the second activation signal. In one embodiment, the first electrically conducting gel and the second electrically conducting gel are the same type of electrically conducting gel.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an electrode assembly is provided. The electrode assembly comprises an electrically conductive layer, a first plurality of gel reservoirs, a second plurality of gel reservoirs, a first fluid channel, a second fluid channel, a first fluid pressure source, and a second fluid pressure source. The electrically conductive layer has a plurality of apertures formed therein, the plurality of apertures including a first plurality of apertures and a second plurality of apertures. The first plurality of gel reservoirs each contain a first electrically conductive gel, each respective gel reservoir of the first plurality of gel reservoirs having an outlet to fluidly communicate with a respective aperture of the first plurality of apertures. The second plurality of gel reservoirs each contain a second electrically conductive gel, each respective gel reservoir of the second plurality of gel reservoirs having an outlet to fluidly communicate with a respective aperture of the second plurality of apertures. The first fluid channel is in fluid communication with each of the first plurality of gel reservoirs, and the second fluid channel is in fluid communication with each of the second plurality of gel reservoirs. The first fluid pressure source is in fluid communication with the first fluid channel and configured to receive a first activation signal and force a first fluid under pressure into the first fluid channel in response to the first activation signal, and the second fluid pressure source is in fluid communication with the second fluid channel and configured to receive a second activation signal and force a second fluid under pressure into the second fluid channel in response to the second activation signal.

In accordance with one embodiment, the outlet of each of the first plurality of gel reservoirs and the outlet of each of the second plurality of gel reservoirs is sealed by a membrane that is constructed to rupture in response to the pressure of the first fluid and the second fluid, respectively.

In accordance with one embodiment, the first activation signal and the second activation signal are based upon the same signal. In another embodiment, the first activation signal is distinct from the second activation signal.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an electrode assembly is provided that comprises at least one ECG sensing electrode, a therapy electrode, a first impedance reduction system and a second impedance reduction system. The at least one ECG sensing electrode is configured to monitor an ECG signal of a patient and the therapy electrode is configured to deliver a defibrillating shock to the patient. The first impedance reduction system is configured to reduce an impedance between the therapy electrode and the patient in response to a first activation signal, and the second impedance reduction system is configured to reduce the impedance between the therapy electrode and the patient in response to a second activation signal. In accordance with one embodiment, the at least one ECG sensing electrode is electrically insulated from the therapy electrode.

In accordance with one embodiment, the at least one ECG sensing electrode includes a plurality of ECG sensing electrodes. In accordance with a further aspect of this embodiment, each of the plurality of ECG sensing electrodes is electrically insulated from the therapy electrode.

In accordance with one embodiment, the electrode assembly further comprises at least one additional sensor configured to monitor a physiological parameter of the patient that is other than the ECG signal of the patient.

In accordance with one embodiment, the first activation signal and the second activation signal are based upon the same signal, and the first impedance reduction system is similar in construction to the second impedance reduction system.

In accordance with one embodiment, the therapy electrode includes an electrically conductive layer having a first surface to be placed adjacent a person's skin and a plurality of apertures formed through the electrically conductive layer. The plurality of apertures includes a first plurality of apertures and a second plurality of apertures. The first impedance reduction system is configured to dispense a first amount of a first electrically conductive gel through the first plurality of apertures and onto the first surface of the electrically conductive layer in response to the first activation signal, and the second impedance reduction system is configured to dispense a second amount of a second electrically conductive gel through the second plurality of apertures and onto the first surface of the electrically conductive layer in response to the second activation signal.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of reducing impedance between an electrode and a patient's skin is provided. The method comprises acts of sending a first activation signal to a first impedance reduction system configured to dispense a first amount of a first electrically conducting gel onto a surface of the electrode that is configured to be disposed adjacent the patient's skin, and sending a second activation signal to a second impedance reduction system configured to dispense a second amount of a second electrically conducting gel onto the surface of the electrode that is configured to be disposed adjacent the patient's skin, the second impedance reduction system being distinct from the first impedance reduction system.

In accordance with one embodiment, the method further comprises an act of determining whether the first impedance reduction system dispensed the first amount of the first electrically conducting gel onto the surface of the electrode, wherein the act of sending the second activation signal to the second impedance reduction system is performed in response to a determination that the first impedance reduction system did not dispense the first amount of the first electrically conducting gel onto the surface of the electrode. In accordance with one embodiment, the act of sending the second activation signal is performed subsequent to the act of sending the first activation signal. In an alternative embodiment, the act of sending the second activation signal is performed substantially simultaneously with the act sending the first activation signal.

Still other aspects, embodiment, and advantages of these exemplary aspects and embodiments are discussed in detail below. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing information and the following detailed description are merely illustrative examples of various aspects and embodiments of the present invention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the claimed aspects and embodiments. Any embodiment disclosed herein may be combined with any other embodiment in any manner consistent with aspects of the present invention disclosed herein, and references to “an embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “an alternate embodiment,” “various embodiments,” “one embodiment,” “at least one embodiment,” “this and other embodiments” or the like are not necessarily mutually exclusive and are intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment. The appearance of such terms herein is not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a wearable medical device, such as a wearable defibrillator;

FIG. 2a is a plan view of an electrode portion of a therapy electrode assembly that may be used with the wearable medical device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2b is a functional block diagram of an impedance reduction system that may be included in the electrode portion of FIG. 2 a;

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a redundant impedance reduction system in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an electrode assembly that includes ECG sensing electrodes, a therapy electrode, and redundant impedance reduction systems in accordance with another aspect of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates the manner in which the electrode assembly of FIG. 4 may be worn on the body of a patient.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

FIG. 1 illustrates a wearable medical device, such as a LifeVest® wearable cardioverter defibrillator available from Zoll Medical Corporation of Chelmsford, Massachusetts. As shown, the wearable medical device 100 includes a harness 110 having a pair of shoulder straps and a belt that is worn about the torso of a patient. The harness 110 is typically made from a material, such as cotton, that is breathable, and unlikely to cause skin irritation, even when worn for prolonged periods of time. The wearable medical device 100 includes a plurality of ECG sensing electrodes 112 that are attached to the harness 110 at various positions about the patient's body and electrically coupled to a control unit 120 via a connection pod 130. The plurality of ECG sensing electrodes 112, which may be dry-sensing capacitance electrodes, are used by the control unit 120 to monitor the cardiac function of the patient and generally include a front/back pair of ECG sensing electrodes and a side/side pair of ECG sensing electrodes. Additional ECG sensing electrodes may be provided, and the plurality of ECG sensing electrodes 112 may be disposed at varying locations about the patient's body.

The wearable medical device 100 also includes a plurality of therapy electrodes 114 that are electrically coupled to the control unit 120 via the connection pod 130 and which are capable of delivering one or more therapeutic defibrillating shocks to the body of the patient, if it is determined that such treatment is warranted. As shown, the plurality of therapy electrodes 114 includes a first therapy electrode 114 a that is disposed on the front of the patient's torso and a second therapy electrode 114 b that is disposed on the back of the patient's torso. The second therapy electrode 114 b includes a pair of therapy electrodes that are electrically coupled together and act as the second therapy electrode 114 b. The use of two therapy electrodes 114 a, 114 b permits a biphasic shock to be delivered to the body of the patient, such that a first of the two therapy electrodes can deliver a first phase of the biphasic shock with the other therapy electrode acting as a return, and the other therapy electrode can deliver the second phase of the biphasic shock with the first therapy electrode acting as the return. The connection pod 130 electrically couples the plurality of ECG sensing electrodes 112 and the plurality of therapy electrodes 114 to the control unit 120, and may include electronic circuitry. For example, in one implementation the connection pod 130 includes signal acquisition circuitry, such as a plurality of differential amplifiers to receive ECG signals from different ones of the plurality of ECG sensing electrodes 112 and to provide a differential ECG signal to the control unit 120 based on the difference therebetween. The connection pod 130 may also include other electronic circuitry, such as a motion sensor or accelerometer by which patient activity may be monitored.

As shown in FIG. 1, the wearable medical device 100 also includes a user interface pod 140 that is electrically coupled to the control unit 120. The user interface pod 140 can be attached to the patient's clothing or to the harness 110, for example, via a clip (not shown) that is attached to a portion of the interface pod 140. Alternatively, the user interface pod 140 may simply be held in a person's hand. In some embodiments, the user interface pod 140 may communicate wirelessly with the control unit 120, for example, using a Bluetooth®, Wireless USB, ZigBee, Wireless Ethernet, GSM, or other type of communication interface. The user interface pod 140 typically includes a number a number of buttons by which the patient, or a bystander can communicate with the control unit 120, and a speaker by which the control unit 120 may communicate with the patient or the bystander. For example, where the control unit 120 determines that the patient is experiencing cardiac arrhythmia, the control unit 120 may issue an audible alarm via a loudspeaker (not shown) on the control unit 120 and/or the user interface pod 140 alerting the patient and any bystanders to the patient's medical condition. The control unit 120 may also instruct the patient to press and hold one or more buttons on the control unit 120 or on the user interface pod 140 to indicate that the patient is conscious, thereby instructing the control unit 120 to withhold the delivery of one or more therapeutic defibrillating shocks. If the patient does not respond, the device may presume that the patient is unconscious, and proceed with the treatment sequence, culminating in the delivery of one or more defibrillating shocks to the body of the patient. In some embodiments, the functionality of the user interface pod 140 may be integrated into the control unit 120. The control unit 120 generally includes at least one processor, microprocessor, or controller, such as a processor commercially available from companies such as Texas Instruments, Intel, AMD, Sun, IBM, Motorola, Freescale and ARM Holdings. In one implementation, the at least one processor includes a power conserving processor arrangement that comprises a general purpose processor, such as an Intel® PXA270 processor and a special purpose processor, such as a Freescale™ DSP56311 Digital Signal Processor. Such a power conserving processor arrangement is described in co-pending application Ser. No. 12/833,096, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONSERVING POWER IN A MEDICAL DEVICE, filed Jul. 9, 2010 (hereinafter the “'096 application”) which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The at least one processor of the control unit 120 is configured to monitor the patient's medical condition, to perform medical data logging and storage, and to provide medical treatment to the patient in response to a detected medical condition, such as cardiac arrhythmia Although not shown, the wearable medical device 100 may include additional sensors, other than the ECG sensing electrodes 112, capable of monitoring the physiological condition or activity of the patient. For example, sensors capable of measuring blood pressure, heart rate, thoracic impedance, pulse oxygen level, respiration rate, heart sounds, and the activity level of the patient may also be provided.

As discussed above, to provide protection against cardiac arrest, patients that use a wearable medical device, such as a wearable defibrillator, generally wear the device nearly continuously while they are awake and while they are asleep. Because the wearable medical device is worn nearly continuously, dry electrodes are typically used for both the plurality of ECG sensing electrodes 112 and the plurality of therapy electrodes 114 for comfort and to prevent irritation of the patient's skin. Where it is determined that one or more defibrillating shocks are to be delivered to the body of the patient and the patient is non-responsive, the control unit 120 sends a signal to the plurality of therapy electrodes 114 causing them to release an impedance reducing gel prior to delivery of one or more defibrillating shocks. The impedance reducing gel reduces the impedance between the conductive surface of the therapy electrodes and the patient's skin, thereby improving the efficiency of the energy delivered to the patient and reducing the chance of damage (e.g., in the form of burning, reddening, or other types of irritation) to the patient's skin.

FIG. 2a is a plan view of an electrode portion of a therapy electrode assembly that includes an impedance reduction system and which may be used with a wearable medical device, such as the wearable defibrillator described above with respect to FIG. 1. FIG. 2b is a functional block diagram of the impedance reduction system that is included in the electrode portion of the therapy electrode assembly shown in FIG. 2a . The impedance reduction system, when activated, dispenses an impedance reducing (i.e., electrically conductive) gel onto the exposed surface of the electrode portion of the therapy electrode assembly that, in use, is placed most proximate to the patient's body. The electrode portion 200 is a multiple layer laminated structure that includes an electrically conductive layer (not visible in FIG. 2a , but disposed adjacent the bottom surface of the electrode portion 200 shown in FIG. 2a ) that forms the electrode and an impedance reduction system 201. In use, the electrically conductive layer is disposed adjacent the patient's skin, although the conductive layer need not make direct contact with the patient, as portions of the harness 110 (FIG. 1) and/or portions of the patient's clothing may be present between the electrically conductive layer and the patient's skin. As shown in FIG. 2a , the impedance reduction system 201 is disposed on a side of the electrode portion 200 (i.e., the top-side shown in FIG. 2a ) that is opposite the side on which the conductive layer is formed.

The impedance reduction system 201 includes a plurality of conductive gel reservoirs 210, each of which has a respective gel delivery outlet 220, that are fluidly coupled to a fluid channel 230, and a fluid pressure source 240. The fluid pressure source 240 is fluidly coupled to the fluid channel 230, and when activated by an activation signal, forces a fluid, such as Nitrogen gas, into the channel 230. The hydraulic pressure of the fluid from the activated fluid pressure source 240 in the fluid channel 230 forces the conductive gel stored in each of the plurality of gel reservoirs out of the plurality of gel delivery outlets 220 through apertures formed in the electrically conductive layer and onto the exposed surface of the electrically conductive layer that, in use, is placed most proximate to the patient's body. The apertures in the electrically conductive layer are generally aligned with the plurality of gel delivery outlets 220 so that when activated, the electrically conductive gel is dispensed onto the exposed surface of the electrode portion that is disposed most proximate to the patient's body. Further details regarding the construction of the electrode portion 200 are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,134 (hereinafter “the '134 patent”) which is incorporated herein by reference. Applicants have appreciated that there may be instances where it would be desirable to have redundancy in the impedance reduction system described above. An electrode that incorporates redundant impedance reduction systems is now described with respect to FIGS. 3-5 below.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a redundant impedance reduction system that may be incorporated in an electrode assembly in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. As shown, the redundant impedance reduction system 300 includes at least two independent impedance reduction systems 301, 302 similar in construction and operation to that described previously with respect to FIGS. 2a and 2b . Although only two impedance reduction systems 301, 302 are shown in FIG. 3, it should be appreciated that additional impedance reduction systems may be provided.

As shown, a first impedance reduction system 301 of the at least two impedance reduction systems 301, 302 includes a first plurality of gel reservoirs 310 a, each containing an electrically conductive gel, with each respective gel reservoir including a gel delivery outlet 320 a. Each of the first plurality of gel reservoirs 310 a is fluidly coupled to a first fluid channel 330 a that is, in turn, fluidly coupled to a first fluid pressure source 340 a. The first fluid pressure source 340 a has an input 341 a to receive a first electrical activation signal and a fluid outlet 342 a that is fluidly coupled to the first fluid channel 330 a. A rupturable membrane and/or a filter (not shown) may be positioned between the fluid outlet 342 a and the first fluid channel 330 a as described in the '134 patent. As described in the '134 patent, the first fluid pressure source 340 a may include a gas generating cartridge that ignites a chemical pellet (such as a Lead Styphnate igniter and a gas generating mixture of Ammonium Dichromate and Nitroguanidine) that rapidly decomposes and generates quantities of a gas, such as Nitrogen. It should be appreciated that other types of fluid pressure sources may be used, as the present invention is not limited to any particular type of fluid pressure source.

In response to the first activation signal received at the input 341 a of the first fluid pressure source 340 a, a fluid, such as Nitrogen gas, is forced into the first fluid channel 330 a and then into each of the first plurality of gel reservoirs 310 a. The hydraulic pressure of the fluid flowing into each of the first plurality of gel reservoirs 310 a forces the electrically conductive gel contained in each gel reservoir toward its respective gel delivery outlet 320 a, thereby fracturing a membrane separating the gel delivery outlet from a respective aperture formed in the electrically conductive layer of the electrode portion.

The second impedance reduction system 302 of the at least two impedance reduction systems 301, 302 is similar to the first impedance reduction system 301 and includes a second plurality of gel reservoirs 310 b, each containing an electrically conductive gel, with each respective gel reservoir including a gel delivery outlet 320 b. The electrically conductive gel contained in the second plurality of gel reservoirs 310 b may, but need not, be the same type of gel as that contained in the first plurality of gel reservoirs 310 a. For example, the electrically conductive gel contained in the second plurality of gel reservoirs 310 b may have a different color, or have a longer drying time than the gel contained in the first plurality of gel reservoirs 310 a. Each of the plurality of gel reservoirs 310 b is fluidly coupled to a second fluid channel 330 b that is, in turn, fluidly coupled to a second fluid pressure source 340 b. The second fluid pressure source 340 b has an input 341 b to receive a second electrical activation signal and a fluid outlet 342 b that is fluidly coupled to the second fluid channel 330 b. The second fluid pressure source 340 b may similar in construction to the first fluid source 340 a described above.

As shown in FIG. 3, the input 341 a of the first fluid pressure source 340 a may be electrically connected to the input 341 b of the second fluid pressure source, such that a single activation signal activates each of the at least two impedance reduction systems 301, 302 substantially simultaneously. Should one of the redundant impedance reduction systems 301, 302 fail to operate (either partially or completely), the other can still operate to dispense conductive gel onto the exposed surface of the electrode. The activation signal provided to the input 341 a of the first fluid pressure source 340 a may be provided by the control unit 120 (FIG. 1) to the first fluid pressure source 340 a using an electrical conductor that is physically distinct from that which provides the activation signal to the input 341 b of the second fluid pressure source 340 b to permit further redundancy, for example, should one of the electrical conductors be damaged. Alternatively, a single electrical conductor may be provided between the control unit 120 and the electrode assembly, with the single electrical conductor being connected to both the input 341 a of the first fluid pressure source 340 a and the input 341 b of the second fluid pressure source 340 b.

It should be appreciated that each of the first and second pressure sources 340 a, 340 b may alternatively receive separate activation signals, as the present invention is not limited to receiving a single activation signal. The separate activation signals may be sent, for example by the control unit 120, to each of the first fluid pressure source 340 a and the second fluid pressure source 340 b at substantially the same time, or at different times. For example, a first activation signal may be provided to the input 341 a of the first fluid pressure source 340 a at a first time, and a second activation signal may be provided to the input 341 b of the second fluid pressure source 340 b at a second time that is subsequent to the first time. In accordance with one embodiment, the control unit 120 (FIG. 1) may send the first activation signal to the first fluid pressure source 340 a at a first time, and send the second activation signal to the second fluid pressure source 340 b at a second and subsequent time where it is determined that the first impedance reduction system 301 failed to operate. Alternatively, the second activation signal may be sent to the second fluid pressure source 340 b at a second and subsequent time even where activation of the first fluid pressure source 340 a is successful. Such a subsequent activation of the second fluid pressure source 340 b would permit a second deployment of conductive gel onto the exposed surface of the electrode and permit the electrode to maintain a high conductivity with the patient for a longer period of time than if both impedance reduction systems 301, 302 were activated at substantially the same time.

FIG. 4 illustrates an electrode assembly that combines one or more ECG sensing electrodes, a therapy electrode, and redundant impedance reduction systems in a single integrated electrode assembly in accordance with a further aspect of the present invention. As shown, the electrode assembly 400 includes a pair of ECG sensing electrodes 412 a, 412 b for monitoring the cardiac function of a patient. The electrode assembly 400 further includes a therapy electrode 414, and at least two impedance reduction systems 301, 302, similar to those described previously with respect to FIG. 3. The pair of ECG sensing electrodes 412 a, 412 b may be electrically separated from the therapy electrode 414, for example, by an insulator. It should be appreciated that in other embodiments, the electrode assembly 400 may include only a single ECG sensing electrode, while in other embodiments, more than two ECG sensing electrodes may be provided. In such alternative embodiments, the number and placement of ECG sensing electrodes and may vary from that shown in FIG. 4. In yet a further embodiment, the integrated electrode assembly can include additional sensors 416, other than the one or more ECG sensing electrodes and the therapy electrode, that are capable of monitoring other physiological parameters of a patient, such as blood pressure, heart rate, thoracic impedance, pulse oxygen level, respiration rate, heart sounds, etc.

The electrode assembly 400 may be worn on the patient's body such that one of the pair of ECG sensing electrodes 412 a, 412 b is disposed approximately in the center of the patient's torso, and the other of the pair of ECG sensing electrodes 412 a, 412 b is disposed on the side of the patient's torso. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the electrode assembly 400 may be worn on the front of the patient's torso, so that the ECG sensing electrode 412 a is disposed approximately in the center of the patient's chest, and the other ECG sensing electrode 412 b is disposed on the patient's side. A second electrode assembly 400′ may be worn on the back of the patient's torso to provide a second pair of ECG sensing electrodes 412 a′, 412 b′, so that one of the ECG sensing electrodes (e.g., ECG sensing electrode 412 a′) of the second pair of ECG sensing electrodes 400′ is disposed approximately in the center of the patient's back, and the other ECG sensing electrode (e.g., ECG sensing electrode 412 b′) of the second pair of ECG sensing electrodes 400′ is disposed on the patient's side opposite the other ECG sensing electrode (e.g., ECG sensing electrode 412 b) of the first pair of ECG sensing electrodes 412 a, 412 b, as shown in FIG. 5. Such an arrangement provides a front-to-back pairing of ECG sensing electrodes (e.g., 412 a, 412 a′) and a side-to-side pairing of ECG sensing electrodes (e.g., 412 b, 412 b′). It should be appreciated that other placements for the first electrode assembly 400 and the second electrode assembly 400′ may alternatively be used. For example, the first electrode assembly 400 may be placed on one side of the patient's torso, and the second electrode assembly 400′ placed on the other side of the patient's torso to provide side-to-side pairings of ECG sensing electrodes.

Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of this invention, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only. 

What is claimed is: 1-21. (canceled)
 22. An integrated therapy and sensing electrode device comprising: a first therapy electrode assembly and a second therapy electrode assembly configured to be disposed in spaced apart positions on a patient's torso, the first therapy electrode assembly and the second therapy electrode assembly each including a therapy electrode; two or more ECG sensing electrodes disposed on each of the first therapy electrode assembly and the second therapy electrode assembly for monitoring ECG signals of the patient; a first impedance reduction system disposed on each of the first therapy electrode assembly and the second therapy electrode assembly and configured to reduce an impedance at a first time between the first therapy electrode assembly and the patient's skin and the second therapy electrode assembly and the patient's skin, respectively; and a second impedance reduction system disposed on each of the first therapy electrode assembly and the second therapy electrode assembly and configured to reduce the impedance at a second time subsequent to the first time between the first therapy electrode assembly and the patient's skin and the second therapy electrode assembly and the patient's skin, respectively.
 23. The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 22, wherein the first impedance reduction system is configured to deploy electrically conductive gel at the first time to reduce the impedance and the second impedance reduction system is configured to deploy conductive gel at a second time subsequent to the first time to reduce the impedance.
 24. The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 23, wherein the second impedance reduction system is configured to further reduce the impedance for a longer period of time than if both the first and second impedance reduction systems were activated at substantially the same time.
 25. The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 23, wherein at least one of the first impedance reduction system and the second impedance reduction system includes a pressure source which, when activated, causes the electrically conductive gel to be dispensed.
 26. The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 22, further comprising at least one additional sensor configured to monitor physiological parameters of a patient other than ECG information and disposed on at least one of the first therapy electrode assembly and the second therapy electrode assembly.
 27. The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 26, wherein the at least one additional sensor is configured to monitor physiological parameters of the patient other than ECG information, including at least one of thoracic impedance, pulse oxygen level, and respiration rate.
 28. The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 26, wherein the at least one additional sensor comprises a heart sounds sensor disposed on one of the first therapy electrode assembly or the second therapy electrode assembly.
 29. The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 22, wherein the therapy electrode of one the first therapy electrode assembly and the second therapy electrode assembly is configured to deliver a defibrillating shock to the patient.
 30. The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 22, wherein the therapy electrode of the first therapy electrode assembly and of the second therapy electrode assembly include a multiple layer laminated structure that includes an electrically conductive layer.
 31. The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 22, wherein the therapy electrode of the first therapy electrode assembly and of the second therapy electrode assembly include an electrically conductive layer and a plurality of apertures formed through the electrically conductive layer.
 32. The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 22, wherein the integrated therapy and sensing electrode device is disposed in a harness.
 33. The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 32, wherein the harness comprises a shoulder strap.
 34. The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 32, wherein the harness comprises a breathable material configured to be worn for prolonged periods of time.
 35. The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 22, further comprising a motion sensor configured to monitor patient activity.
 36. The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 22, further comprising a user interface and a control unit, the user interface and the control unit configured to communicate wirelessly with one another.
 37. The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 22, further comprising a speaker configured to issue an audible alarm.
 38. The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 22, further comprising a user interface including a button that, when actuated by the patient, causes delivery of a defibrillation shock to be withheld.
 39. The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 22, further comprising a processor configured to perform medical data logging and storage.
 40. The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 22, wherein the first therapy electrode assembly is configured to be disposed in a center of the torso of the patient and the second therapy electrode assembly is configured to be disposed on a side of the torso of the patient.
 41. The integrated therapy and sensing electrode device of claim 22, wherein the two or more ECG sensing electrodes are electrically insulated from the therapy electrode of the first therapy electrode assembly and the therapy electrode of the second therapy electrode assembly. 